Friday, May 2
East Lansing, Mich.
6:02 PM
Michigan State University
vs
No. 6 Oregon
Photo by: MSU Baseball Social Squad
Spartans Host Nationally-Ranked Ducks In Three-Game B1G Weekend Series
5/1/2025 5:23:00 PM | Baseball
MSU and Oregon meeting for first time since 2016.
• Michigan State baseball hosts nationally-ranked Oregon in a three-game Big Ten Conference weekend series at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium, Friday-Sunday, May 2-4. The series gets underway on Friday at 6:02 p.m. Saturday's second game of the series is slated for 3:32 p.m., before the series finale on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
• The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on X/Twitter for schedule updates.
• Fans can follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live," "Live Stats" and "Listen Live" links, where available, at MSUSpartans.com.
• It is Michigan State University Commencement Weekend, so fans are reminded to please allot plenty of time for parking as MSU's campus will be busy all weekend.
• Oregon brings a No. 6 ranking in both the D1Baseball.com and the Perfect Game Top 25 Polls, while ranking No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 12 in the Baseball America Poll and No. 19 in the NCBWA Poll.
• Michigan State is 23-19 overall and 9-12 in Big Ten action, coming off a weekend series at in-state rival Michigan, falling 8-2, 9-2 and 6-5, but have still won six of the last 10 games. The Spartans enter the weekend in a four-way tied for 10th-place in the B1G standings.
• Oregon comes to East Lansing riding a four game-win streak, with all four wins over in-state rival Oregon State, with a weekend series at Eugene and a midweek match-up at Corvallis on Tuesday. The sixth-ranked Ducks are 31-12 and 14-7 in B1G action, having won six of the seven conference series they've played. Oregon enters the weekend tied for third-place in the B1G standings.
• MSU is entering its final three-week stretch of the season, opening with hosting Oregon this weekend. The Spartans did not have a midweek game this week due to finals on MSU campus. Michigan State wraps up midweek action next week with a pair of match-ups against in-state foes, hosting Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, May 6 at 6:02 p.m. at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. MSU will then make its final midweek road trip for its final non-conference game of the season, heading to Kalamazoo to play at Western Michigan on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 p.m. at WMU's Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field. The Spartans then make the cross-country trek to Los Angeles, to play a B1G weekend series at USC, Friday-Sunday, May 9-11. MSU wraps up regular-season action against Minnesota in a three-game B1G series, Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17, in which will be MSU Senior Weekend Celebrations, presented by HAP.
• For the first time since the preseason polls, Michigan State was not ranked among others receiving votes in the April 7 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Poll and MSU is again not in this week's (April 28) poll, marking the fourth week in row MSU hasn't been included in receiving votes in the rankings. The Spartans had a run of seven weeks in a row having either been ranked or including in among others receiving votes.
• Once again, UCLA and Oregon are the only two B1G teams ranked in the polls, and the Bruins and the Ducks just squared off two weekends ago (April 18-20) in Eugene, Ore., with the Ducks winning two-of-three. While they're the lone two ranked B1G teams, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and USC are among the others receiving votes in the NCBWA Poll, in addition to Iowa as the other league team among others receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
• For the ninth-straight year, the Spartan Media Network will carry a live audio stream for all home and select road Spartan baseball games this season ... The broadcast will be available exclusively at MSUSpartans.com by clicking on "Listen Live" on the baseball schedule ... Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action, with Spartan baseball alum Jim Cotter providing analysis for select home games and limited road games.
SPARTANS VS. DUCKS DIAMOND DOUBLE
• Michigan State is playing Oregon in both diamond sports this weekend, with the Spartan baseball team hosting Oregon in East Lansing, while the MSU and UO softball teams are playing a weekend series in Eugene.
SPARTAN FUND DONOR APPRECIATION DAY
• Saturday is MSU Baseball's Spartan Fund Donor Appreciation Day ... A huge thank you to all Spartan Fund donors for your support of Spartan Baseball!
ALUMNI DAY AND KOBS COMMONS
• Saturday is also Michigan State Baseball Alumni Day, honoring former Spartans with a pre-game gathering and in-game recognition.
John Kobs III will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday. John is the grandson of former Michigan State baseball coach John Kobs, who led the Spartans from 1925 to 1963. Over his remarkable 38-year tenure, Coach Kobs amassed 574 wins, guided the 1954 team to a Big Ten Conference championship, and secured a third-place finish in the College World Series in Omaha.
New for the 2025 season, we are proud to introduce Kobs Commons, a dedicated space where families, friends, and players can come together. This new addition celebrates John Kobs' lasting impact on Michigan State baseball and honors his contributions to the sport as a whole.
Michigan State is playing its 141st season of baseball in 2025 ... Baseball was the first organized varsity sport on campus with the first season of Spartan baseball in 1884, going 4-2 in the six-game schedule, and baseball has been played every season since, with only no varsity in 1944 due to World War II.
YOUTH BASEBALL WEEKEND
• MSU Baseball is welcoming all are Youth Baseball teams this weekend with complementary admission for all youth teams (players and coaches) in uniform.
IN THE RANKINGS
• Michigan State was ranked in the Feb. 24 rankings of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25 Poll, but slipped out of the following week's rankings and were among others receiving votes for the next five weeks, until not being listed in the last four weeks' polls (April 7, 14, 21 & 28).
Prior to the Feb. 24 ranking, the last time that MSU was ranked was No. 23 in the Baseball America Top 25 Poll and No. 30 in the NCWBA Poll on May 2, 2016. The Spartans made their season debut in the rankings that season at No. 25 in the March 14, 2016 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Once again, UCLA and Oregon are the only two B1G teams ranked in the polls, and the Bruins and the Ducks just squared off two weekends (April 18-20) in Eugene, Ore., with the Ducks winning two-of-three. While they're the lone two ranked B1G teams, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and USC are among the others receiving votes in the NCBWA Poll, in addition to Iowa as the other league team among others receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Oregon is No. 6 in both the D1Baseball.com and the Perfect Game Top 25 Polls, while ranking No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 12 in the Baseball America Poll and No. 19 in the NCBWA Poll.
UCLA is No. 14 in both the D1Baseball.com and the USA Today Coaches Polls, while No. 15 in both the NCBWA and Perfect Game Polls, in addition to No. 20 in the Baseball America Poll.
BOSS IN 17th SEASON WITH SPARTANS
• Head coach Jake Boss Jr. is in his 17th year at Michigan State and 18th overall as a collegiate head coach ... Boss entered the 2025 season at No. 3 on MSU's longest coaching list behind John H. Kobs (1935-63), the namesake for the former historic Kobs Field, location of McLane Stadium, with 39 seasons, and legendary head coach Denny Litwhiler (1964-82) with 19 seasons.
BOSS 450th VICTORY FOR MSU
• Head coach Jake Boss Jr. won his 450th as Spartan head coach with a 3-2 walk-off Victory for MSU over Cornell on Friday, March 7 in the opening day of play at the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive.
Coach Boss becomes the third MSU baseball coach to reach the 450 Victories for MSU milestone, joining Spartan coaching greats John Kobs with 576 wins and Danny Litwhiler with 489.
Now with 463 wins in 863 games, Boss is also No. 3 on the Spartan head coach list for wins and No. 2 in games coached, also behind Kobs with 576 wins in 969 games, and Litwhiler with 489 wins, while recently passing Litwhiler in games coaches, as Litwhiler coached 859 games.
141ST SEASON OF MICHIGAN STATE BASEBALL
Michigan State is playing its 141st season of baseball in 2025 ... Baseball was the first organized varsity sport on campus with the first season of Spartan baseball in 1884, going 4-2 in the six-game schedule, and baseball has been played every season since, with only no varsity in 1944 due to World War II.
MSU currently has an all-time record of 2,498-2,215-30 (.530) in 4,743 games played.
STRIVE FOR 25...HUNDRED
Michigan State enters the weekend with 2,498 wins, just two shy from becoming the 35th Division I team to reach 2,500 all-time wins. MSU will be the seventh B1G team to reach 2,500 wins, joining Michigan, USC, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio State and UCLA.
MITTEN STATERS
• Michigan State has 23 players on its 2025 roster from the state of Michigan ... Oregon doesn't have any Michiganders on its 2025 roster.
FROM THE 33RD STATE
• The Spartans do not have any players from Oregon on their roster ... the Ducks have eight players from the "Pacific Wonderland" State on their roster.
SERIES HISTORY NOTES VS. THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENT
• Michigan State and Oregon are meeting for the first time since 2016 and also meeting for the first time at Big Ten foes, as Oregon joined the Big Ten Conference prior to 2024-25.
Overall: MSU leads, 4-0
In East Lansing: MSU leads, 1-0
In Eugene: MSU leads, 3-0 | Neutral: 0-0
Streak: MSU W4
First meeting: MSU 2, UO 1 (11); April 3, 2015 in Eugene
Last meeting: MSU 3, UO 2 (10); April 1, 2016 in East Lansing
Series Notes: Spartans and Ducks meeting for first time as B1G foes and first time overall since 2016 in second half of a home-and-home series ... First meeting came in 2015 in three-game series in Eugene, with Spartans sweeping series ... MSU and UO met in East Lansing in 2016, but only got one of the three-game series in, as MSU won the opener, 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th on a walk-off home run by Jordan Zimmerman, and then games two and three of the series were cancelled due to inclement weather ... Two of four meetings have gone to extra innings.
DZIERWA K-BITS
• Junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa has 75 strikeouts, which ranks second in the B1G and 34th in the NCAA.
• With 75 strikeouts, Dzierwa is second in the B1G in strikeouts for the third week this season, and is now 10 Ks behind league leader, Iowa's Cade Obermueller, who has 85 Ks.
• With an 2.51 ERA, Dzierwa is second in the B1G and 34th in the NCAA. Dzierwa's counterpart on Friday, Oregon starter Grayson Grinsell is third in the B1G in both ERA and strikeouts, with a 2.97 ERA and 68 strikeouts. Oregon's Ian Umlandt has a 1.99 ERA with nine earned runs in 40.2 IP, but doesn't qualify the league leaders, compared to Dzierwa's 18 earned runs in 64.2 IP, over 20 more IP.
• The Spartan southpaw Dzierwa is also sixth in the B1G and 61st in the NCAA in WHIP (1.08), as well as fourth in the B1G and 91st in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (10.44).
• Dzierwa is also ninth in the league and 80th in the nation in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.10).
• After chalking up double-digit strikeouts in his first three outings, Dzierwa has rung up single-digit Ks in his last eight outings, with eight strikeouts against UAB on March 7, and five his next two times out vs. Iowa on March 14 and at Penn State on March 21, before just three vs. Illinois on March 28, before ringing up five Ks at Indiana on April 6. He got back on track with eight against Northwestern on April 12, before five vs. Ohio State on April 19 and three at Michigan on April 26.
• Dzierwa rang up 10+ strikeouts in the first three outings this season and in a stretch of his last four in a row dating back to last year's regular-season final outing ... his most recent double-digit strikeout outing was on Feb. 28 with 10 Ks against Harvard on Feb. 28.
• Dzierwa now has:
-- 25 career outing with five or more Ks (nine of his 10 outings in 2025, 10 in 2024, including in first six-straight games, six in 2023).
-- 13 career outing with seven or more Ks (five in 2025, six in 2024, two in 2023).
-- Three-straight outings this season with 10+ strikeouts and four-straight double-digit strikeout total of career, joining the career-high 12 vs. Washington State (2/21/25), the 11 vs. Western Michigan in the 2025 season-opener (2/14/25) and the 11 vs. Nebraska in 2024 season finale (5/17/24).
DZIERWA NAMED TO COLLEGE BASEBALL FOUNDATION TOP 55 PITCHERS OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
• Michigan State baseball junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named to the College Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year Watch List, released on April 18.
Dzierwa is one of four Big Ten pitchers on the 55-player list, joined by Cole Giley of Indiana, Cade Obermueller of Iowa and Ian Umlandt of Oregon.
With a 2.30 ERA at the time, Dzierwa was also one of 38 pitchers on the list sport an ERA below 2.50, including Jack Ohman (Yale) who had a microscopic 0.23 ERA.
The Pitcher of the Year Award will be presented later this year by the College Baseball Foundation.
For more information on the Pitcher of the Year Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
MSU BASEBALL'S JOSEPH DZIERWA ON GOLDEN SPIKES MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
• Michigan State baseball's Joseph Dzierwa was named to the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, presented by Chinook Seedery, and announced on April 4.
Continuing the process of identifying the best amateur baseball player in the country for the 2025 season, the Golden Spikes Award list features 45 of the nation's top athletes from college and high school baseball.
Dzierwa, a junior pitcher from Haskins, Ohio, is one of six Big Ten Conference players on the 45-player list, but the only pitcher from the league on the list. He is joined by Maryland outfielder Alex Calarco, UCLA infielder Roch Cholowsky Indiana outfielders Korbyn Dickerson and Devin Tayler, along with Oregon outfielder Mason Neville. Dzierwa is one of 19 pitchers on the list, including one of nine left-handed pitchers.
At the time of the announcement, the Spartan southpaw led the B1G and ranked fifth in the nation in ERA at 1.27, as well as topping the conference and ranking 18th in the country in strikeouts at 54. Additionally, Dzierwa as first in the B1G and 14th in the NCAA at the time in both WHIP (0.87) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.06).
DZIERWA DZUMPING WAY INTO RECORD BOOK IN KS
• Last season, Spartan southpaw Joseph Dzierwa rang up 91 strikeouts, which were not only the most strikeouts since Dakota Mekkes chalked up 96 Ks in 2016, but Dzierwa's total was good for No. 8 on MSU's single-season strikeout total.
• Dzierwa has already nearly caught last season's total, as he enters this week with 75 strikeouts.
200 KS FOR DZIERWA
• With his third strikeout in his outing at Penn State on March 21, Dzierwa registered his 200th career strikeouts, becoming just the sixth Spartan pitcher with 200 career Ks, and the first to do so since Mason Erla reached the milestone on April 9 2021.
• Dzierwa passed Dick Radatz (1957-59) with 193 Ks and Brian Murphy (1995-98) with 194 Ks. Dzierwa now has 226 career strikeouts for his, taking over sole possession of the No. 4 spot on MSU's career strikeout list, passing Ron Perranoski's 223 Ks from 1956-58. Earlier this season, Dzeirwa passed Cam Vieaux (2014-16) with 205 strikeouts.
• This season, Dzierwa has already passed David Garner (2011-13) with 192 Ks, Craig Brookes (2004-07) with 186 career punchouts, along with former teammate Nick Powers (2021-24) with 187.
18 FOR 16
• The win over Northwestern on April 12 was Dzierwa's 18th career win, cracking into the MSU Career Wins List.
MSU CAREER STRIKEOUTS LIST
1. Bryan Gale 277 2001-04
2. Tony Bucciferro 273 2009-12
3. Mason Erla 243 2017-2021
4. Joseph Dzierwa 226 2023-pres.
5. Ron Perranoski 223 ..1956-58
6. Cam Vieaux .....205 .. 2014-16
7. Brian Murphy ...194 .. 1995-98
8. Dick Radatz .....193 .. 1957-59
David Garner ...192 .. 2011-13
10. Nick Powers 187 2021-24
MSU CAREER Wins LIST
1. Stuart Hirschman 28 1990-93
Bryan Gale 28 2001-04
3. Tony Bucciferro 26 2009-12
Kurt Wunderlich 26 2008-11
5. Larry Ike 23 1970-72
Brian Wolcott 23 1977-80
7. Mick VanVossen 21 2012-15
Ron Perranoski 21 1956-58
9. Nick Powers 19 2021-24
10. Joseph Dzierwa 18 2023-pres.
Andrew Waszak 18 2010-13
Tim Day 18 2002-05
D&D DUO FOR THE SHUTOUT AGAIN
• The Dzierwa and Dom duo of junior starting pitcher Joseph Dzierwa and Dominic Pianto posted their second-straight combined shutout together, as Dzierwa went 7.0 IP and Pianto pitched 1.0 IP in MSU's 10-8, 8-inning run-rule Victory for MSU over Northwestern on Saturday. Dzierwa and Pianto were part of MSU's previous shutout, coming on March 21 at Penn State, winning 4-0, with graduate reliever Tyler Horvath picking up the final out for the combined shutout.
BUSCH CLIMBING UP CAREER HR LIST
• Now with 12 home runs this season, senior infielder Sam Busch has 26 career home runs, becoming part of a five-way tie for the No. 7 spot on MSU's Career Home Runs list that includes former teammate Jack Frank (2020-24), in addition to Sean Walker (2004-07), James Moreno (2001-04) and Scott Ayotte (1992-95):
Home Runs
1. Kyle Geswein 36 1999-02
2. Matt Riggins 34 1993-96
3. Travis Gulick 30 2002-04
4. Bob Malek 29 2000-02
5. Scott Makarewicz 28 1987-89
6. Mike Davidson 27 1985-88
7. Sam Busch 26 2021-pres.
Jack Frank 26 2020-24
Sean Walker 26 2004-07
James Moreno 26 2001-04
Scott Ayotte 26 1992-95
12. Bob Goodheart 24 1982-85
Dan Masteller 24 1987-89
Eric Sumpter 24 1991-94
BUSCH BLASTS TO NEW CAREER-HIGH
• Senior infielder Sam Busch blasted his eighth home run of the season on March 29 vs. Illinois, giving him a new career-high for a season, after seven in each of the 2023 and 2024 season. He added his ninth of the year on April 11 vs. Northwestern, before belting homers in back-to-back games against the Buckeyes of Ohio State on April 18 and 19, now with 11 on the season.
Busch now has 12 round-trippers on the year after his solo homer last weekend at Michigan. The dozen dingers makes Busch the second Spartan to blast double-digit homers in the last three seasons, joining former teammate Brock Vradenburg with 13 HR in 2023.
GW RBI BY BUSCH
• Senior infielder Sam Busch has knocked in the "game-winning" RBI as in the RBI that gives the Spartans the lead they never relinquish in four-straight wins from March 30-April 15, as part of a team-leading nine times this season.
Busch knocked in the GW RBI in two of the three wins over Harvard, along with doing so in both wins of the Northwestern series, after doing so in the win over Illinois on March 30, as well as the win over Western Michigan on April 15, which was his second GW RBI against WMU, with one in game two of both the season and the DH vs. WMU on Opening Day. {See pg. 5 of notes for full details of GW RBI}
BUSCH BELTS FIRST TWO-HR OUTING OF CAREER, GREENVILLE DRIVIN' THE BALL
• Senior infielder Sam Busch had his first two-HR game of his career on Friday, March 7 vs. UAB, in game two of the first day of the First Pitch Invitational action in Greenville.
Those two round-trippers were half of Busch's four homers during the 8-game, 10-day residency at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive ... Busch start off with a three-run homer in the first inning against Harvard on March 2, in the first half of back-to-back blasts by the Spartans, as graduate catcher Caleb Berry followed Busch's three-run round-tripper with a solo shot ... Busch also smacked a solo shot to lead off the third inning against Western Carolina on March 5 ... He then knocked two round-trippers against UAB on March 7.
Busch then added two more HR in a game in the 12-8 11-inning Victory for MSU at Iowa on March 14, smacking a solo homer in the fourth to break a scoreless tie and start the scoring in the game. He then added a three-run home run in the top of the 11th, breaking the game open from a 9-8 MSU lead to an 11-8 advantage.
BUSCH BLASTS TO START THIRD INNING
• With his home run to lead off the third inning on vs. Western Carolina on March 5, senior infielder Sam Busch blasted his second home run to lead off an inning of the season, and both occasions have come in the third inning.
On March 5 vs. Western Carolina, Busch went yard to right center at Fluor Field to start off the third inning.
Busch also started off the third frame against UCLA on Feb. 23 in Corpus Christi with a home run to right field.
HORVATH ON NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
• Michigan State baseball graduate relief pitcher Tyler Horvath has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List, announced on April 23.
Horvath is one of three pitchers from the Big Ten Conference on the 56-player list, joined by Ethan Hedges of USC and Luke Broderick of Nebraska.
The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 4, with the winner being named on Friday, June 13 at the 2025 College World Series.
A native of Twinsburg, Ohio, Horvath is in his first year on the Spartans' pitching staff, coming to MSU as a grad transfer from Case Western Reserve University. Horvath is currently tied for fifth in the B1G with six saves, along with fourth in the B1G in strikeout/walk ratio (4.14), with 29 strikeouts against only seven walks. Horvath has a team-leading 16 appearances with 27.1 IP, logging three wins.
The six saves are the most by a Spartan reliever since Wyatt Rush had 10 in 2023. With the six saves, Horvath needs one more to tie for No. 10 on MSU's single-season saves list, joining six other Spartan pitchers, most recently Indigo Diaz in 2019.
ALL ABOARD THE McKAY TRAIN
• Michigan State sophomore infielder Ryan McKay was rolling at the plate during the series at Penn State, reaching base in 10-straight at bats as part of 11 in 12 at bats ... he went 4-for-4 in the win over Oakland on March 19, as well as drawing a walk in his last at bat in the series finale at Iowa on March 15, in addition to drawing a walk in his second at bat, with only a groundout in between to deny McKay from 12 in a row.
The 10-straight at bats was the most consecutive at bats reaching base for a Spartan since former teammate Jack Frank reached base in 13-straight at bats from April 21-27, 2024.
McKay currently tops MSU and ranks 19th in the B1G with a .454 on-base percentage.
WALK LIKE A MCKAY-IAN
• Sophomore infielder Ryan McKay also ranks tied for ninth in the B1G and ranks tied for 95th in the NCAA in walks (34) ... McKay is also ninth in the league in walks/game (0.81).
BIG THINGS IN MINI PACKAGES
• McKay, nicknamed "Mini" by his teammates, went 4-for-4 vs. Oakland on March 19, and then 5-for-5 at Penn State on March 21, and is the first Spartan player to go 4-for-4 and 5-for-5 since Jack Frank did so last year ... Frank was 4-for-4 on May 4, 2024 vs. Michigan, while he was 5-for-5 on March 2, 2024 vs. Western Michigan, and McKay is the first MSU player with five hits since Frank's 5-for-5 outing vs. WMU.
RYAN MCKAY TABBED BIG TEN CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Michigan State baseball's Ryan McKay was named the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week, announced by the conference office on March 24.
McKay, a sophomore infielder from Clarkston, Michigan, earns not only his first B1G accolade of the season but of his career as well. It's his second overall B1G honor, as he was one of the Spartans' Big Ten Players to Watch before this season.
He also garnered MSU's first Player of the Week recognition this season. Overall, it is the Spartans' third conference accolade of the season, as junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa collected back-to-back Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 17 and 24.
The Spartan sophomore McKay slashed .722 / .762 / .833 for the week, going 13-for-18 in four games on the week, leading MSU to a 3-1 mark, including helping the Spartans to their first series win over Penn State at University Park since 2016.
McKay reached base in 10-straight at bats and 11 of his last 12 after going 4-for-4 in last Wednesday's win over Oakland, as well as drawing a walk in his last at bat in the series finale at Iowa, in addition to drawing a walk in his second at bat, with only a groundout in between to deny McKay from 12 in a row.
He was 5-for-5 at the plate in the opening win, becoming the first Spartan to do so this season, and the first since former teammate Jack Frank had a hit in all five at bats on 3/2/24 vs. Western Michigan. The Spartan infielder knocked two doubles in the opener, with one RBI and two runs scored.
McKay started the week going 4-for-4 with one RBI and three runs scored, adding two stolen bases and one walk in win over Oakland. He was also 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored in the loss at PSU.
He then bounced back by going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in the series-clinching Victory for MSU. McKay sparked a Spartan rally in the fifth of the Spartans' big four-run inning, as MSU extended its 2-1 lead to 6-1, and added another RBI single in the ninth as Spartans broke the game open after PSU closed to 7-4, and MSU added three runs to open a 10-4 lead, securing the 10-5 series-clinching win.
11 INNINGS IS IN
• MSU has played three extra-inning games this season and they've all three gone 11 innings, winning 12-8 at Iowa in 11 frames on March 14, while losing to Northwestern 11-10, at home on April 11, but then bouncing back to beat Ohio State, 10-9 in 11 innings, on April 19.
LIGHTING UP SCOREBOARD FOR DOUBLE-DIGITS
• The Spartans posted back-to-back games with 10 or more runs in the first two games of the Northwestern series, falling 11-10 in 11 innings in Friday's opener, before bouncing back to blank the Wildcats, 10-8 in 8 innings on Saturday. It was MSU's second time this season with 10+ runs in consecutive games, first doing so on March 1-2, with 11 and 13 runs vs. Harvard, respectively.
MSU scored double-digits in all four games in week of April 14, doing so in the midweek match-up with Western Michigan on April 15, and then in all three games against Ohio State (April 18-20), and now have hung 10+ runs on the scoreboard a total of 12 times and the Spartans are 11-1 when scoring in double-digits.
FAB FIRST FRAME AND SCORING FIRST
• Michigan State has scored 280 runs on the season, with 47 (16.8 percent) coming in the first inning, through the 42 games played, averaging 1.1 runs in the first inning per game, and the 47 runs in the first frame are four more than the next-highest scoring inning of the sixth with 43 runs.
MSU has scored in the first inning in 18 of the 42 games, including three different stretches of four-games in a row, most recently with the Western Michigan game on April 15 and all three games of the Ohio State series (April 18-20).
The Spartans are 12-6 when scoring in the first inning, as well as 20-8 when scoring first.
The Spartans scored 17 runs in the first four-game stretch, plating four vs. Washington State (Feb. 21), one vs. TAMU-Corpus Christi (Feb. 22), four vs. UCLA (Feb. 23) then eight vs. Harvard (Feb. 28) in the opening game in Greenville.
After being held scoreless in game two of the Harvard series on March 1, MSU then scored a combined nine in the opening inning of the next four contests, with four vs. Harvard (March 2), two vs. Western Carolina (March 5), one vs. Cornell (March 7-G1) and two vs. UAB (March 7-G2).
SENSATIONAL SIXTH STANZAS
• The sixth stanza was MSU's lucky inning in both of its wins in the Northwestern series, as nine of the Spartans' combined 13 runs in those two games came in the sixth inning.
In the 10-0 8-inning run-rule Victory for MSU on April 12, the Spartans were held hitless and scoreless through the first 5.0 innings, before breaking through with five hits and scoring seven runs in the frame, to open a 7-0 lead.
The next day, MSU was down 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth, and had just two hits to that point. The Spartans again knocked five hits and scored all three of their runs in the home half of the sixth, winning 3-1.
SHUTOUT SPARTANS
Michigan State's pitching staff has combined for five shutouts this season. MSU blanked Western Michigan in the season-opener on Feb. 14 in Cary, N.C., then shut out Monmouth the next day by an identical, 2-0 score.
The Spartans then walloped Winthrop, 7-0, on March 8 in Greenville.
Michigan State posted its fourth blanking of the season on March 21 at Penn State with a 4-0 Victory for MSU.
The Green & White chalked up their fifth clean sheet on April 12 with a 10-0 8-inning run-rule win.
MSU's five shutouts this season through 34 games are now the most by a Spartan pitching staff since 2016 when they also tallied five shutouts.
DOUBLE-DIGIT Ks
MSU's season-high 15 Ks vs. Washington State on Feb. 21 is one of 11 outings ringing up double-digit strikeout totals ... MSU has posting back-to-back 10+ K outings twice this season, doing so first in games one of two of the season, in both games of the season-opening DH on Opening Day on Feb. 14, and again in two of the three games of the Northwestern series, with 14 on April 11 and 10 the next day on April 12.
15 - vs. Washington State (Feb. 21)
14 - vs. Northwestern (April 11)
13 - at Iowa (March 14)
12 - vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 14-G1)
12 - vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 14-G2)
12 - vs. Harvard (Feb. 28)
12 - vs. Ohio State (April 19)
11 - vs. Western Carolina (March 5)
10 - vs. UAB (March 7-G2)
10 - at Penn State (March 21)
10 - vs. Northwestern (April 12)
HOME RUNNIN'
MSU enters the weekend with 44 home runs this season, needing one more to crack into the Top 12 of the single-season HR team list, two more to match last season's 46 homers and three more to crack the Top 10:
HOME RUNS
1. 2002 95
2. 2004 75
3. 1994 59
1984 59
5. 1985 57
6. 1988 54
7. 2023 52
8. 1990 49
9. 1987 47
2017 47
11. 2024 46
12. 2015 45
1993 45
-- 2025 44
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK, WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
MSU made LL Cool J proud on April 19 when MSU rallied from down against Ohio State, 6-2 in the fourth and came back to win, 10-9 ... It was the Spartans' first comeback win from more than three runs since April 14, 2023 vs. Western Illinois when Michigan State was down 8-3 in the sixth and also came back to win by an identical, 10-9 score.
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD WITH DOUBLE-DIGIT RUNS
• MSU plated 10 or more runs in four-straight games from April 15-20, the Spartans' longest stretch of scoring double-digit in a row since 2017 when they also had four in a row from March 21-26, including sweeping a series at Illinois with 12, 12 and 17 runs, coming after plating 11 in the previous game vs. Central Michigan, and as a span of doing so in five times out of six games, with 13 runs on March 18 ... the 2002 Spartans had two different stretches of scoring 10+ runs in four games in a row.
SOKOLOVE-IN' A WALK-OFF HR
• Senior outfielder JT Sokolove hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning on Saturday, April 19 for the 10-9 Victory for MSU over Ohio State ... it was MSU's first walk-off home run of any kind since March 10, 2023 when Dillon Kark had an inside-the-park home run at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. against Western Carolina in the bottom of the ninth ... ironically, Kark also had MSU's previous walk-off HR over the fence since March 18, 2022 when he belted a walk-off homer vs. Houston Baptist in a home game.
14-4 RUN-RULE LUCKY RESULTS
• Michigan State has now won three games by a 14-4 run-rule score with the win over Ohio State on Sunday, April 20 the most recent win by that score and all three have come at home at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium ... MSU beat Illinois, 14-4 in an 8-inning run-rule on March 29 and beat Western Michigan also by the 14-4 score and also in an 8-inning run-rule Victory for MSU on April 15.
RUN-RULIN'
• MSU has now had 10 games end early due to the 10-run run-rule, as the Spartans have run-ruled their opposition seven times, while losing three games early via the run-rule, as MSU is 7-3 in run-rule games.
BASE-SWIPING SPARTANS
Michigan State is seventh in the Big Ten in stolen bases with 56 swipes. MSU's 1.33 stolen bases per game is also seventh in the B1G.
The Spartans were a perfect 14-for-14 on stolen bases in the three games of the Harvard series.
Individually, senior outfielder JT Sokolove is tied for eighth in the B1G with 12 swipes, while sophomore infielder Ryan McKay is tied for 10th in the conference with 11 stolen bases and senior outfielder/infielder Nick Williams is tied for 28th in the league with eight bags stolen.
EARNING THE ICE BAGS
Michigan State is keeping Athletic Trainer Justin Waas busy with the ice bags, as the Spartans are ninth in the B1G and 123rd in the NCAA in hit by pitch, getting plunked 64 times so far this season, an average of 1.5 HBP pg.
MSU drew 12 HBP in the three-game Harvard series Feb. 28-March 2, including three each by senior outfielder JT Sokolove and junior outfielder Jake Dresselhouse.
Sokolove and junior infielder Randy Seymour were both hit twice in the Northwestern series (April 11-13), part of MSU drawing eight HBP, as Northwestern entered the weekend leading the B1G.
Individually, Sokolove is fourth in the B1G and is tied for 46th in the NCAA with 17 HBP. Sokolove is also third in the league and 52nd in the nation in HBP/game (0.41). Senior outfielder Nick Williams has earned nine HBP, while Dresselhouse has eight and graduate catcher Caleb Berry has been hit six times.
Sokolove has been HBP nearly the same amount as he has drawn a base on balls, as he has 16 HBP compared to drawing 17 walks.
SACRIFICING SEYMOUR
• Junior infielder Randy Seymour is second in the B1G and ranks 64th in the NCAA in sacrifice bunts/game (0.17), and Seymour is also second in the B1G and tied for 47th in the NCAA in total sacrifice bunts with seven. He had two sac bunts in the weekend series at Penn State.
As a team, MSU is third in the B1G in sacrifice bunts with 22 (0.5 pg).
WALK IT OFF SEYMOUR
• Junior infielder Randy Seymour laced a walk-off RBI single for the 3-2 walk-off Victory for MSU over Cornell on March 7 in Greenville ... It was MSU's first walk-off hit since last season on March 31, 2024 when Ryan McKay also had an RBI single to right field for an identical 3-2 walk-off win, coming against Rutgers in a B1G weekend series in East Lansing.
ONLY Ks IN THEIR NAME
• Despite having a K in their names, sophomore infielder Ryan McKay and senior outfielder Nick Williams don't register a K in the score book very often.
McKay was tied for the lead in the B1G and NCAA in toughest to strikeout after the first week of the season, as he was not retired on strikes in any of his 10 at bats in the opening weekend.
He was one of three B1G players and one of 155 players in the NCAA who did not strike out through the first week.
McKay now has just 25 Ks in 157 at bats (6.3) through 42 games.
Last season, McKay was second in the B1G and 13th in the NCAA in toughest to strike out (13.5), with just 14 strikeouts in 189 at bats.
• Teammate Nick Williams is the team leader with just 17 Ks in 119 at bats, just outside the top 10 in the B1G in toughest to strikeout (7.9).
Last season, N.Williams had just 25 strikeouts in 181 at bats (7.24).
TRIPLE THE PICOT-DE-GALLO
• Sophomore outfielder Parker Picot is tied for the Big Ten lead and tied for 11th in the NCAA in triples with five. Picot is also tied for first in the league and tied for 12th in the nation in triples per game (0.13).
PICOT SMASHING HOMER DEBUT
Spartan sophomore outfielder Parker Picot had a smashing memory for his first collegiate home run, crushing a grand slam home run in the first inning of the game vs. Harvard on Feb. 28.
Picot then bashed his second homer of the night with a solo home run in the fourth inning to record his first two-HR outing to go with his first HR as a Spartan and collegiate baseball player after transferring to MSU after one season at Alabama.
With five RBI on the night, Picot also became the first Spartan with five RBI in a single game since Greg Ziegler had five ribbies on May 4, 2024 vs. Michigan.
EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT
• Michigan State played an 11-inning game on March 14 at Iowa, winning 12-8 ... It was MSU's first extra-inning game of the season, and was the Spartans' first game going extras since May 5, 2024 in a 12-inning loss vs. Michigan ... It was MSU's first 11-inning game since March 16 of last season, going 11 in a loss vs. Evansville ... While both of those extra-inning games were at home, it was MSU's first 11-inning game on the road since April 11, 2023 with a 7-6 win at Notre Dame.
SPARTANS SMACK SIX HOMERS AGAINST HARVARD AND IOWA
• After not hitting six home runs in a game from March 26, 2017 until Feb. 28, 2024, doing so in the 14-1 7-inning Victory for MSU over Harvard in Greenville earlier this season, the Spartans have now done so twice in a span of 10 games ... MSU smacked a half dozen home runs at Iowa on March 14 in a 12-8 11-inning win, taking advantage of windy conditions at Iowa's Duane Banks Field, blowing 20-25 mph with gusts up to 35-40 mph.
Michigan State also smacked six home runs in the 14-1 7-inning Victory for MSU over Harvard on Feb. 28 at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. ... the six homers against Harvard was the most HR hit by the Spartans in a game since March 26, 2017 when MSU hit eight round-trippers at Illinois, winning 17-6.
WHEN YOU CARE ENOUGH TO SEND THE BERRY BEST, SEND IT ON THE 7TH
Michigan State graduate catcher/designated hitter Caleb Berry has six home runs this season, belting his fifth of the season at Indiana on Monday, April 7th.
Of Berry's five homers at the time, two have come on the seventh day of the month, as he hit his third round-tripper of the season on March 7th, and he hit his fifth homer of the year on Monday, April 7th.
MSU is scheduled to play on Wednesday, May 7th, playing at Western Michigan.
BUSCH BASHING WEEK RECAP
• Senior infielder Sam Busch was bashing in the midweek against Notre Dame and weekend series vs. Illinois, as he slashed . 500 / .533 / .929 in four games on the week, going 7-of-14, including 4-for-5, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, with five RBI in Sunday's win over Illinois.
• Busch started the week with a two-run single in his lone plate appearance on Wednesday at Notre Dame, after getting night off, came off bench in ninth inning and delivered two-run single off Notre Dame's closer, pulling MSU within 9-6, before rally and game ended with next batter.
• He then went 2-for-4 with pair of doubles and two ribbies and a run scored in Friday's series opening loss to the Illini.
• Busch finished the weekend going 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored, knocking a home run into the Red Cedar River along with a double, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, including a "walk-off" single in the eighth for the 14-4 run-rule Victory for MSU.
PROFESSIONAL STADIUM EXPERIENCE
• Michigan State is slated for 17 total games and one exhibition contests in four different professional stadiums.
MSU played in the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Kleberg Bank College Classic on the weekend of weekend Feb. 21-23 that was played at Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
• The Spartans also played eight games at their home-away-from-home, Fluor Field, in Greenville, S.C., home of the Greenville Drive, the high-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Fluor Field nearly replicates the dimensions of Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. The Greenville ballpark has its own "Green Monster" replica, a 30-foot high wall in left field as opposed to the 37-foot one found at Fenway, and contains a manual scoreboard. Every other dimension is to the same specifications as Fenway Park, including "Pesky's Pole" in right field.
• MSU hosted Harvard in a three-game series last weekend, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 2. The Spartans played Western Carolina on Wednesday, March 5 in a single midweek contest, before hosting the First Pitch Invitational on Friday-Sunday, March 7-9, tangling with Cornell and UAB on March 7, then Winthrop on March 8 and UAB again on March 9.
• Michigan State tangled with the Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, in the 2025 Crosstown Showdown on April 1 at Jackson® Field™ in the annual exhibition game, with MSU winning, 1-0, in the seven-inning contest using modified rules, including Lugnuts pitchers throwing to both teams, and were on limited pitch counts as some innings ended early.
• MSU also played a three-game Big Ten Conference series at Penn State, March 21-23, winning two of three. The Nittany Lions' home field is Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, home of the MLB Draft League's State College Spikes.
• Additionally, the Spartans also play a three-game conference series at B1G newcomer USC, Friday-Sunday, March 9-11, which plays a majority of its home games at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif., while construction continues on the Trojans' home, on-campus Dedeaux Field.
GRAND SLAM SEYMOUR FOR GRAND SLAM HOMER CYCLE
MSU sophomore infielder Randy Seymour joined Picot in belting a grand slam over the weekend, with his coming in the win over Harvard on March 2.
The grand slam completes the career home run cycle for Seymour, as he now has a solo, two-run, three-run and grand slam during his Spartan career, with the first three coming last year as part of his three home runs in 2024.
Seymour is tied for fourth among the active Spartans in career home runs with four, behind leader Sam Busch with 16, Christian Williams (7), Nick Williams (5), and tied with Noah Bright (4).
STRIKIN' OUT WAZZU
• Michigan State's pitching staff rang up a season-high 15 strikeouts against Washington State on Feb. 21, with sophomore Joseph Dzierwa firing 12 Ks, followed by two by sophomore reliever Tate Farquhar and one by senior reliever Dominic Pianto to end the game.
The 15 vs. Washington State was the most by the Spartan pitching staff since ringing up 15 Ks vs. Western Carolina on March 11, 2023 in a 7-2 Victory for MSU at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina.
DZIERWA GARNERS SECOND-STRAIGHT B1G PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONOR ON FEB. 24
Spartan southpaw becomes first MSU baseball player to earn B1G weekly award in consecutive weeks.
• Michigan State baseball's junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the second-straight week, announced on Feb. 24 evening by the conference office.
Dzierwa becomes the first Michigan State baseball player to earn a B1G weekly award of any kind in consecutive weeks in program history.
Twice before a Spartan pitcher has earned the Pitcher of the Week award in a span of three weeks, as Cam Vieaux earned the accolades on March 31 and April 14, 2014, and Andrew Waszak collected the awards on April 15 and 29, but not in successive weeks.
Along with his second-consecutive Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Award, this is Dzierwa's sixth overall conference recognition, including his third weekly award, as he was also Big Ten Freshman of the Week once (April 10, 2023). Dzierwa was a 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selection, as well as a two-time B1G Preseason Player to Watch List member (2024 and 2025).
Making his second start of the season last Friday vs. Washington State in the opening game of the Kleberg Bank College Classic in Corpus Christi, Texas, Dzierwa chalked up a career-high 12 strikeouts in 7.0 IP, with one hit and one walk, and those both came in the first frame, and he was nearly perfect after that until the sixth.
After striking out the first seven batters faced last week vs. Western Michigan, Dzierwa appeared to be starting Friday afternoon's contest the same way, ringing up Ks on the first two WSU batters. However, he then yielded a two-out walk followed by a single, but then chalked up his third punchout of the inning to slam the door on any thoughts of a rally the Cougars might have had.
Dzierwa then retired the next 14 Cougar batters faced with a total of 10 Ks through five innings, before hitting a batter in the sixth inning. In the seventh, he induced a popup and then fired back-to-back strikeouts looking to end his day with the 12 punchouts in 7.0 IP, with only one hit, one walk and one hit-by-pitch, in only 83 pitches.
It marked the third-straight outing of his career setting or tying career-best, dating back to last year, after he fired 11 Ks vs. Nebraska in the 2024 season-finale, then 11 Ks last Friday in Cary, N.C. vs. Western Michigan, before Friday's dozen punchouts.
The 12 strikeouts by the Spartan southpaw were the most by an MSU pitcher since Sam Benschoter rang up 17 Ks in 9.1 IP of relief on April 21, 2021 vs. Nebraska.
Additionally, the 12 Ks were also the most in the Big Ten to date, and he now has two of the top five single-game pitching performances in the league in the midst of the second weekend of the season.
Dzierwa is the sixth Spartan pitcher to earn the B1G Pitcher of the Week honors twice in a season, as along with Vieaux and Waszak, Kurt Wunderlich did so in 2011 (Feb. 28 and May 23), Bryan Gale in 2004 (March 29 and May 17) and Tim Crabtree in 1992 (April 7 and May 5).
Additionally, Dzierwa was also named the Big Ten Loud! Performance of the Day by D1Baseball for Friday's performances around the league.
He helped MSU to a 6-1 start to the season, it's best record since 2016, and the Spartans are ranked in this week's NCBWA Top-25 Poll, coming in at No. 23.
MSU'S JACOB ANDERSON NAMED TO LOU GEHRIG COMMUNITY IMPACT TEAM
Lone Big Ten player on list and one of only Power 4 schools.
Michigan State baseball's Jacob Anderson has been named to the 2025 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team, announced Wednesday, Feb. 19.
A redshirt-junior infielder, Anderson is the only player from the Big Ten Conference on the nine-player list and only of only two players from a Power 4 conference team.
Anderson, a native of Oakland Township, Michigan, has demonstrated remarkable success both on the baseball field and within his community, establishing himself as a dedicated and compassionate leader.
"Jacob Anderson is the consummate student-athlete who represents our athletics department in the most incredible manner on the field, in the classroom, and in the community," said MSU Associate Director of Student-Athlete Support Services Melissa Tallant. "He carries a 3.54 GPA and will graduate with a degree in kinesiology. He has a genuine desire to make his community a better place and consistently puts others ahead of himself while realizing the platform he has to impact those in need."
On the field, Anderson played an important role last season as the fifth infielder, dealing with an early-season injury, finishing with a .255 batting average. This season, he was elected one of two team captains in a vote by his teammates, and he stepped into the starting role at third base, where his skills, leadership, and determination will be vital to the team's success.
Off the field, Anderson's involvement in the community is equally impressive. He serves as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Representative for the baseball team, actively participating in various initiatives aimed at giving back to others. Anderson has contributed to events like Teams for Toys, the Student-Athlete Food Drive, and the Student-Athlete Career Mixer, all of which serve to support both the local community and his fellow student-athletes.
Anderson's leadership shines through in his work with organizations that support individuals with special needs. Through the baseball team, he has played a pivotal role in helping out with the Miracle League of Mid-Michigan, where he assists special needs youth as their 'buddy' during games on an adaptive rubberized surface. Additionally, Anderson has been involved with the Beautiful Lives Project, helping host a clinic for special needs youth, and with Team Impact, where the team adopted a six-year-old boy battling cancer, offering him love and support through a difficult journey.
Anderson is also a member of Athletes in Action on campus, participating in their Operation Christmas Child initiative, where he helps pack and send shoeboxes with Christmas gifts to children in need around the world. Looking ahead, Anderson plans to contribute to the City Rescue Mission, where he will assist in feeding and housing homeless individuals in the East Lansing area.
2025 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team
Cole Fellows – Columbia University - Captain
Jacob Anderson – Michigan State University
Javier Cardoso – Point Park University
Bobby Dingel – DeSales University
Alex Fitz-Hugh – Hampden-Sydney College
Jake McKee – Florida Gulf Coast University
Kamau Neighbors – University of Louisville
Alex Levesque – William Peace University
Eli Paton – Grand Canyon University
EARLY HOME OPENER
• Wednesday's March 12 home opener date was the earliest home opener in program history ... The 2025 home opener dethroned the 2024 and 2018 Home Openers that shared the honor of a March 15 date ... Michigan was the seventh in-state opponent for the Spartans in their last 12 home openers, joining Western Michigan (2023, 2019 and 2014), Central Michigan (2017, 2016 and 2015) ... Wednesday's game-time temp was 50 degrees, which put it among the warmest home-openers in the last 12 years.
Last 12 Years Of Home-Openers
Year Date Result Game-Time Temp
2025 March 12$ Michigan 11, MSU 7 50
2024 March 15* MSU 11, Evansville 3 54
2023 March 21 MSU 8, Western Michigan 3 50
2022 March 18 MSU 4, Houston Baptist 3 48
2021 March 26 Indiana 8, MSU 2 49
(B1G-only ledger due to COVID)
2020 No home-opener due to COVID --
2019 March 20^ / March 27 MSU 3, Western Michigan 2 52
2018 March 15* MSU 10, Niagara 1 34
2017 March 21 MSU 11, Central Michigan 2 52
2016 March 23 MSU 4, Central Michigan 1 38
2015 March 24 MSU 8, Central Michigan 3 40
2014 April 2 MSU 5, Western Michigan 3 52
$ = Earliest home-opening date in program history
* = Tied for previous earliest home-opening date in program history before the 2025 home opener on March 12
^ = Scheduled date but postponed
HOME OPENER SUCCESS
• Despite last Wednesday's loss, MSU has still won 11 of its last 13 home openers and the Spartans are 14-3 in their first game of the year played at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium under head coach Jake Boss Jr. ... The 2021 season's home opening loss to Indiana snapped MSU's eight-game home opener winning streak, but the Spartans won the next three since, before Wednesday's loss ... The Green & White are averaging over five runs per game (5.5 rpg) in the last 12 home openers, including scoring double-digit runs in three of the last 12 home openers, including last year in an 11-3 Victory for MSU over Evansville.
2-0 IN GAME ONE
• Michigan State played a doubleheader on both Friday and Saturday of the opening weekend, Feb. 14 and 15, winning the opener both days by 2-0 scores, needing only three total hits to do so, scoring all four runs on non-hit plays.
In the season-opening Victory for MSU on Feb. 14, the Spartans scored two runs in the fifth inning on a two-run sac bunt by redshirt-junior infielder Jacob Anderson.
In the win over Monmouth the next day, Michigan State capitalized on two sacrifice flies a few batters apart in the sixth inning, for the triumph.
DZIERWA COLLECTS B1G PITCHER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES - FEB 17
• Michigan State baseball's junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the opening week of the season, announced on Feb. 17 by the conference office.
This is Dzierwa's first career Big Ten weekly accolade, but his fourth overall league recognition. He was a 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selection, as well as a two-time B1G Preseason Player to Watch List member (2024 and 2025).
Dzierwa is the first Michigan State pitcher to earn B1G Pitcher of the Week honors since May 1, 2023 when former teammate Harrison Cook earned the accolade.
The Spartan southpaw burst out of the gates in Friday's 2025 season-opener in Cary, N.C., against Western Michigan, tying a career-high by firing 11 strikeouts in 6.0 IP, good for a 1.8 K/inning and a 16.5 K/9 average). Dzierwa opened the game with seven straight strikeouts in the first seven batters faced, and did not allow a run of any kind in holding Western Michigan to just one hit.
Dzierwa, a native of Haskins, Ohio, was named one of D1Baseball.com's Friday standouts and his photo was the lead for the Friday's standouts, as the 11 Ks was second-most by a D1 pitcher on Friday. His D1Baseball.com game score of 80 was the highest in the B1G and second in the NCAA for Friday's games, and also tops in the B1G and holding at second overall for both Friday and Saturday's games.
The 11 Ks was tied for the most in the B1G in the opening weekend. Dzierwa was one of five pitchers in the conference to post 10 or more strikeouts in the opening weekend, but he was the only pitcher in the B1G that didn't yield a run of any kind, and his 0.33 WHIP was the lowest of any B1G pitcher with 10+ strikeouts.
UP NEXT
• Michigan State plays a pair of in-state foes next week in its final midweek match-ups and non-conference contests of the season, hosting Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, May 6 at 6:02 p.m. at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. MSU then plays at Western Michigan on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 p.m. at WMU's Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field
• The Spartans then make the cross-country trek to Los Angeles, to play a B1G weekend series at USC, Friday-Sunday, May 9-11. MSU wraps up regular-season action against Minnesota in a three-game B1G series, Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17, in which will be MSU Senior Weekend Celebrations, presented by HAP.
• The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.
• Michigan State baseball tickets are available online at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information.
• The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on X/Twitter for schedule updates.
• Fans can follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live," "Live Stats" and "Listen Live" links, where available, at MSUSpartans.com.
• It is Michigan State University Commencement Weekend, so fans are reminded to please allot plenty of time for parking as MSU's campus will be busy all weekend.
• Oregon brings a No. 6 ranking in both the D1Baseball.com and the Perfect Game Top 25 Polls, while ranking No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 12 in the Baseball America Poll and No. 19 in the NCBWA Poll.
• Michigan State is 23-19 overall and 9-12 in Big Ten action, coming off a weekend series at in-state rival Michigan, falling 8-2, 9-2 and 6-5, but have still won six of the last 10 games. The Spartans enter the weekend in a four-way tied for 10th-place in the B1G standings.
• Oregon comes to East Lansing riding a four game-win streak, with all four wins over in-state rival Oregon State, with a weekend series at Eugene and a midweek match-up at Corvallis on Tuesday. The sixth-ranked Ducks are 31-12 and 14-7 in B1G action, having won six of the seven conference series they've played. Oregon enters the weekend tied for third-place in the B1G standings.
• MSU is entering its final three-week stretch of the season, opening with hosting Oregon this weekend. The Spartans did not have a midweek game this week due to finals on MSU campus. Michigan State wraps up midweek action next week with a pair of match-ups against in-state foes, hosting Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, May 6 at 6:02 p.m. at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. MSU will then make its final midweek road trip for its final non-conference game of the season, heading to Kalamazoo to play at Western Michigan on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 p.m. at WMU's Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field. The Spartans then make the cross-country trek to Los Angeles, to play a B1G weekend series at USC, Friday-Sunday, May 9-11. MSU wraps up regular-season action against Minnesota in a three-game B1G series, Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17, in which will be MSU Senior Weekend Celebrations, presented by HAP.
• For the first time since the preseason polls, Michigan State was not ranked among others receiving votes in the April 7 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Poll and MSU is again not in this week's (April 28) poll, marking the fourth week in row MSU hasn't been included in receiving votes in the rankings. The Spartans had a run of seven weeks in a row having either been ranked or including in among others receiving votes.
• Once again, UCLA and Oregon are the only two B1G teams ranked in the polls, and the Bruins and the Ducks just squared off two weekends ago (April 18-20) in Eugene, Ore., with the Ducks winning two-of-three. While they're the lone two ranked B1G teams, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and USC are among the others receiving votes in the NCBWA Poll, in addition to Iowa as the other league team among others receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
• For the ninth-straight year, the Spartan Media Network will carry a live audio stream for all home and select road Spartan baseball games this season ... The broadcast will be available exclusively at MSUSpartans.com by clicking on "Listen Live" on the baseball schedule ... Broadcast veteran Scott Moore calls the action, with Spartan baseball alum Jim Cotter providing analysis for select home games and limited road games.
SPARTANS VS. DUCKS DIAMOND DOUBLE
• Michigan State is playing Oregon in both diamond sports this weekend, with the Spartan baseball team hosting Oregon in East Lansing, while the MSU and UO softball teams are playing a weekend series in Eugene.
SPARTAN FUND DONOR APPRECIATION DAY
• Saturday is MSU Baseball's Spartan Fund Donor Appreciation Day ... A huge thank you to all Spartan Fund donors for your support of Spartan Baseball!
ALUMNI DAY AND KOBS COMMONS
• Saturday is also Michigan State Baseball Alumni Day, honoring former Spartans with a pre-game gathering and in-game recognition.
John Kobs III will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on Saturday. John is the grandson of former Michigan State baseball coach John Kobs, who led the Spartans from 1925 to 1963. Over his remarkable 38-year tenure, Coach Kobs amassed 574 wins, guided the 1954 team to a Big Ten Conference championship, and secured a third-place finish in the College World Series in Omaha.
New for the 2025 season, we are proud to introduce Kobs Commons, a dedicated space where families, friends, and players can come together. This new addition celebrates John Kobs' lasting impact on Michigan State baseball and honors his contributions to the sport as a whole.
Michigan State is playing its 141st season of baseball in 2025 ... Baseball was the first organized varsity sport on campus with the first season of Spartan baseball in 1884, going 4-2 in the six-game schedule, and baseball has been played every season since, with only no varsity in 1944 due to World War II.
YOUTH BASEBALL WEEKEND
• MSU Baseball is welcoming all are Youth Baseball teams this weekend with complementary admission for all youth teams (players and coaches) in uniform.
IN THE RANKINGS
• Michigan State was ranked in the Feb. 24 rankings of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Top 25 Poll, but slipped out of the following week's rankings and were among others receiving votes for the next five weeks, until not being listed in the last four weeks' polls (April 7, 14, 21 & 28).
Prior to the Feb. 24 ranking, the last time that MSU was ranked was No. 23 in the Baseball America Top 25 Poll and No. 30 in the NCWBA Poll on May 2, 2016. The Spartans made their season debut in the rankings that season at No. 25 in the March 14, 2016 ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Once again, UCLA and Oregon are the only two B1G teams ranked in the polls, and the Bruins and the Ducks just squared off two weekends (April 18-20) in Eugene, Ore., with the Ducks winning two-of-three. While they're the lone two ranked B1G teams, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and USC are among the others receiving votes in the NCBWA Poll, in addition to Iowa as the other league team among others receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Oregon is No. 6 in both the D1Baseball.com and the Perfect Game Top 25 Polls, while ranking No. 10 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, No. 12 in the Baseball America Poll and No. 19 in the NCBWA Poll.
UCLA is No. 14 in both the D1Baseball.com and the USA Today Coaches Polls, while No. 15 in both the NCBWA and Perfect Game Polls, in addition to No. 20 in the Baseball America Poll.
BOSS IN 17th SEASON WITH SPARTANS
• Head coach Jake Boss Jr. is in his 17th year at Michigan State and 18th overall as a collegiate head coach ... Boss entered the 2025 season at No. 3 on MSU's longest coaching list behind John H. Kobs (1935-63), the namesake for the former historic Kobs Field, location of McLane Stadium, with 39 seasons, and legendary head coach Denny Litwhiler (1964-82) with 19 seasons.
BOSS 450th VICTORY FOR MSU
• Head coach Jake Boss Jr. won his 450th as Spartan head coach with a 3-2 walk-off Victory for MSU over Cornell on Friday, March 7 in the opening day of play at the First Pitch Invitational at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive.
Coach Boss becomes the third MSU baseball coach to reach the 450 Victories for MSU milestone, joining Spartan coaching greats John Kobs with 576 wins and Danny Litwhiler with 489.
Now with 463 wins in 863 games, Boss is also No. 3 on the Spartan head coach list for wins and No. 2 in games coached, also behind Kobs with 576 wins in 969 games, and Litwhiler with 489 wins, while recently passing Litwhiler in games coaches, as Litwhiler coached 859 games.
141ST SEASON OF MICHIGAN STATE BASEBALL
Michigan State is playing its 141st season of baseball in 2025 ... Baseball was the first organized varsity sport on campus with the first season of Spartan baseball in 1884, going 4-2 in the six-game schedule, and baseball has been played every season since, with only no varsity in 1944 due to World War II.
MSU currently has an all-time record of 2,498-2,215-30 (.530) in 4,743 games played.
STRIVE FOR 25...HUNDRED
Michigan State enters the weekend with 2,498 wins, just two shy from becoming the 35th Division I team to reach 2,500 all-time wins. MSU will be the seventh B1G team to reach 2,500 wins, joining Michigan, USC, Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio State and UCLA.
MITTEN STATERS
• Michigan State has 23 players on its 2025 roster from the state of Michigan ... Oregon doesn't have any Michiganders on its 2025 roster.
FROM THE 33RD STATE
• The Spartans do not have any players from Oregon on their roster ... the Ducks have eight players from the "Pacific Wonderland" State on their roster.
SERIES HISTORY NOTES VS. THIS WEEKEND'S OPPONENT
• Michigan State and Oregon are meeting for the first time since 2016 and also meeting for the first time at Big Ten foes, as Oregon joined the Big Ten Conference prior to 2024-25.
Overall: MSU leads, 4-0
In East Lansing: MSU leads, 1-0
In Eugene: MSU leads, 3-0 | Neutral: 0-0
Streak: MSU W4
First meeting: MSU 2, UO 1 (11); April 3, 2015 in Eugene
Last meeting: MSU 3, UO 2 (10); April 1, 2016 in East Lansing
Series Notes: Spartans and Ducks meeting for first time as B1G foes and first time overall since 2016 in second half of a home-and-home series ... First meeting came in 2015 in three-game series in Eugene, with Spartans sweeping series ... MSU and UO met in East Lansing in 2016, but only got one of the three-game series in, as MSU won the opener, 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th on a walk-off home run by Jordan Zimmerman, and then games two and three of the series were cancelled due to inclement weather ... Two of four meetings have gone to extra innings.
DZIERWA K-BITS
• Junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa has 75 strikeouts, which ranks second in the B1G and 34th in the NCAA.
• With 75 strikeouts, Dzierwa is second in the B1G in strikeouts for the third week this season, and is now 10 Ks behind league leader, Iowa's Cade Obermueller, who has 85 Ks.
• With an 2.51 ERA, Dzierwa is second in the B1G and 34th in the NCAA. Dzierwa's counterpart on Friday, Oregon starter Grayson Grinsell is third in the B1G in both ERA and strikeouts, with a 2.97 ERA and 68 strikeouts. Oregon's Ian Umlandt has a 1.99 ERA with nine earned runs in 40.2 IP, but doesn't qualify the league leaders, compared to Dzierwa's 18 earned runs in 64.2 IP, over 20 more IP.
• The Spartan southpaw Dzierwa is also sixth in the B1G and 61st in the NCAA in WHIP (1.08), as well as fourth in the B1G and 91st in the NCAA in strikeouts per nine innings (10.44).
• Dzierwa is also ninth in the league and 80th in the nation in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (7.10).
• After chalking up double-digit strikeouts in his first three outings, Dzierwa has rung up single-digit Ks in his last eight outings, with eight strikeouts against UAB on March 7, and five his next two times out vs. Iowa on March 14 and at Penn State on March 21, before just three vs. Illinois on March 28, before ringing up five Ks at Indiana on April 6. He got back on track with eight against Northwestern on April 12, before five vs. Ohio State on April 19 and three at Michigan on April 26.
• Dzierwa rang up 10+ strikeouts in the first three outings this season and in a stretch of his last four in a row dating back to last year's regular-season final outing ... his most recent double-digit strikeout outing was on Feb. 28 with 10 Ks against Harvard on Feb. 28.
• Dzierwa now has:
-- 25 career outing with five or more Ks (nine of his 10 outings in 2025, 10 in 2024, including in first six-straight games, six in 2023).
-- 13 career outing with seven or more Ks (five in 2025, six in 2024, two in 2023).
-- Three-straight outings this season with 10+ strikeouts and four-straight double-digit strikeout total of career, joining the career-high 12 vs. Washington State (2/21/25), the 11 vs. Western Michigan in the 2025 season-opener (2/14/25) and the 11 vs. Nebraska in 2024 season finale (5/17/24).
DZIERWA NAMED TO COLLEGE BASEBALL FOUNDATION TOP 55 PITCHERS OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
• Michigan State baseball junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named to the College Baseball Foundation's Pitcher of the Year Watch List, released on April 18.
Dzierwa is one of four Big Ten pitchers on the 55-player list, joined by Cole Giley of Indiana, Cade Obermueller of Iowa and Ian Umlandt of Oregon.
With a 2.30 ERA at the time, Dzierwa was also one of 38 pitchers on the list sport an ERA below 2.50, including Jack Ohman (Yale) who had a microscopic 0.23 ERA.
The Pitcher of the Year Award will be presented later this year by the College Baseball Foundation.
For more information on the Pitcher of the Year Award, visit the College Baseball Foundation website at www.collegebaseballhall.org.
MSU BASEBALL'S JOSEPH DZIERWA ON GOLDEN SPIKES MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
• Michigan State baseball's Joseph Dzierwa was named to the midseason watch list for the Golden Spikes Award, presented by Chinook Seedery, and announced on April 4.
Continuing the process of identifying the best amateur baseball player in the country for the 2025 season, the Golden Spikes Award list features 45 of the nation's top athletes from college and high school baseball.
Dzierwa, a junior pitcher from Haskins, Ohio, is one of six Big Ten Conference players on the 45-player list, but the only pitcher from the league on the list. He is joined by Maryland outfielder Alex Calarco, UCLA infielder Roch Cholowsky Indiana outfielders Korbyn Dickerson and Devin Tayler, along with Oregon outfielder Mason Neville. Dzierwa is one of 19 pitchers on the list, including one of nine left-handed pitchers.
At the time of the announcement, the Spartan southpaw led the B1G and ranked fifth in the nation in ERA at 1.27, as well as topping the conference and ranking 18th in the country in strikeouts at 54. Additionally, Dzierwa as first in the B1G and 14th in the NCAA at the time in both WHIP (0.87) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.06).
DZIERWA DZUMPING WAY INTO RECORD BOOK IN KS
• Last season, Spartan southpaw Joseph Dzierwa rang up 91 strikeouts, which were not only the most strikeouts since Dakota Mekkes chalked up 96 Ks in 2016, but Dzierwa's total was good for No. 8 on MSU's single-season strikeout total.
• Dzierwa has already nearly caught last season's total, as he enters this week with 75 strikeouts.
200 KS FOR DZIERWA
• With his third strikeout in his outing at Penn State on March 21, Dzierwa registered his 200th career strikeouts, becoming just the sixth Spartan pitcher with 200 career Ks, and the first to do so since Mason Erla reached the milestone on April 9 2021.
• Dzierwa passed Dick Radatz (1957-59) with 193 Ks and Brian Murphy (1995-98) with 194 Ks. Dzierwa now has 226 career strikeouts for his, taking over sole possession of the No. 4 spot on MSU's career strikeout list, passing Ron Perranoski's 223 Ks from 1956-58. Earlier this season, Dzeirwa passed Cam Vieaux (2014-16) with 205 strikeouts.
• This season, Dzierwa has already passed David Garner (2011-13) with 192 Ks, Craig Brookes (2004-07) with 186 career punchouts, along with former teammate Nick Powers (2021-24) with 187.
18 FOR 16
• The win over Northwestern on April 12 was Dzierwa's 18th career win, cracking into the MSU Career Wins List.
MSU CAREER STRIKEOUTS LIST
1. Bryan Gale 277 2001-04
2. Tony Bucciferro 273 2009-12
3. Mason Erla 243 2017-2021
4. Joseph Dzierwa 226 2023-pres.
5. Ron Perranoski 223 ..1956-58
6. Cam Vieaux .....205 .. 2014-16
7. Brian Murphy ...194 .. 1995-98
8. Dick Radatz .....193 .. 1957-59
David Garner ...192 .. 2011-13
10. Nick Powers 187 2021-24
MSU CAREER Wins LIST
1. Stuart Hirschman 28 1990-93
Bryan Gale 28 2001-04
3. Tony Bucciferro 26 2009-12
Kurt Wunderlich 26 2008-11
5. Larry Ike 23 1970-72
Brian Wolcott 23 1977-80
7. Mick VanVossen 21 2012-15
Ron Perranoski 21 1956-58
9. Nick Powers 19 2021-24
10. Joseph Dzierwa 18 2023-pres.
Andrew Waszak 18 2010-13
Tim Day 18 2002-05
D&D DUO FOR THE SHUTOUT AGAIN
• The Dzierwa and Dom duo of junior starting pitcher Joseph Dzierwa and Dominic Pianto posted their second-straight combined shutout together, as Dzierwa went 7.0 IP and Pianto pitched 1.0 IP in MSU's 10-8, 8-inning run-rule Victory for MSU over Northwestern on Saturday. Dzierwa and Pianto were part of MSU's previous shutout, coming on March 21 at Penn State, winning 4-0, with graduate reliever Tyler Horvath picking up the final out for the combined shutout.
BUSCH CLIMBING UP CAREER HR LIST
• Now with 12 home runs this season, senior infielder Sam Busch has 26 career home runs, becoming part of a five-way tie for the No. 7 spot on MSU's Career Home Runs list that includes former teammate Jack Frank (2020-24), in addition to Sean Walker (2004-07), James Moreno (2001-04) and Scott Ayotte (1992-95):
Home Runs
1. Kyle Geswein 36 1999-02
2. Matt Riggins 34 1993-96
3. Travis Gulick 30 2002-04
4. Bob Malek 29 2000-02
5. Scott Makarewicz 28 1987-89
6. Mike Davidson 27 1985-88
7. Sam Busch 26 2021-pres.
Jack Frank 26 2020-24
Sean Walker 26 2004-07
James Moreno 26 2001-04
Scott Ayotte 26 1992-95
12. Bob Goodheart 24 1982-85
Dan Masteller 24 1987-89
Eric Sumpter 24 1991-94
BUSCH BLASTS TO NEW CAREER-HIGH
• Senior infielder Sam Busch blasted his eighth home run of the season on March 29 vs. Illinois, giving him a new career-high for a season, after seven in each of the 2023 and 2024 season. He added his ninth of the year on April 11 vs. Northwestern, before belting homers in back-to-back games against the Buckeyes of Ohio State on April 18 and 19, now with 11 on the season.
Busch now has 12 round-trippers on the year after his solo homer last weekend at Michigan. The dozen dingers makes Busch the second Spartan to blast double-digit homers in the last three seasons, joining former teammate Brock Vradenburg with 13 HR in 2023.
GW RBI BY BUSCH
• Senior infielder Sam Busch has knocked in the "game-winning" RBI as in the RBI that gives the Spartans the lead they never relinquish in four-straight wins from March 30-April 15, as part of a team-leading nine times this season.
Busch knocked in the GW RBI in two of the three wins over Harvard, along with doing so in both wins of the Northwestern series, after doing so in the win over Illinois on March 30, as well as the win over Western Michigan on April 15, which was his second GW RBI against WMU, with one in game two of both the season and the DH vs. WMU on Opening Day. {See pg. 5 of notes for full details of GW RBI}
BUSCH BELTS FIRST TWO-HR OUTING OF CAREER, GREENVILLE DRIVIN' THE BALL
• Senior infielder Sam Busch had his first two-HR game of his career on Friday, March 7 vs. UAB, in game two of the first day of the First Pitch Invitational action in Greenville.
Those two round-trippers were half of Busch's four homers during the 8-game, 10-day residency at Fluor Field, home of the Greenville Drive ... Busch start off with a three-run homer in the first inning against Harvard on March 2, in the first half of back-to-back blasts by the Spartans, as graduate catcher Caleb Berry followed Busch's three-run round-tripper with a solo shot ... Busch also smacked a solo shot to lead off the third inning against Western Carolina on March 5 ... He then knocked two round-trippers against UAB on March 7.
Busch then added two more HR in a game in the 12-8 11-inning Victory for MSU at Iowa on March 14, smacking a solo homer in the fourth to break a scoreless tie and start the scoring in the game. He then added a three-run home run in the top of the 11th, breaking the game open from a 9-8 MSU lead to an 11-8 advantage.
BUSCH BLASTS TO START THIRD INNING
• With his home run to lead off the third inning on vs. Western Carolina on March 5, senior infielder Sam Busch blasted his second home run to lead off an inning of the season, and both occasions have come in the third inning.
On March 5 vs. Western Carolina, Busch went yard to right center at Fluor Field to start off the third inning.
Busch also started off the third frame against UCLA on Feb. 23 in Corpus Christi with a home run to right field.
HORVATH ON NCBWA STOPPER OF THE YEAR MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
• Michigan State baseball graduate relief pitcher Tyler Horvath has been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List, announced on April 23.
Horvath is one of three pitchers from the Big Ten Conference on the 56-player list, joined by Ethan Hedges of USC and Luke Broderick of Nebraska.
The NCBWA will announce the finalists on Wednesday, June 4, with the winner being named on Friday, June 13 at the 2025 College World Series.
A native of Twinsburg, Ohio, Horvath is in his first year on the Spartans' pitching staff, coming to MSU as a grad transfer from Case Western Reserve University. Horvath is currently tied for fifth in the B1G with six saves, along with fourth in the B1G in strikeout/walk ratio (4.14), with 29 strikeouts against only seven walks. Horvath has a team-leading 16 appearances with 27.1 IP, logging three wins.
The six saves are the most by a Spartan reliever since Wyatt Rush had 10 in 2023. With the six saves, Horvath needs one more to tie for No. 10 on MSU's single-season saves list, joining six other Spartan pitchers, most recently Indigo Diaz in 2019.
ALL ABOARD THE McKAY TRAIN
• Michigan State sophomore infielder Ryan McKay was rolling at the plate during the series at Penn State, reaching base in 10-straight at bats as part of 11 in 12 at bats ... he went 4-for-4 in the win over Oakland on March 19, as well as drawing a walk in his last at bat in the series finale at Iowa on March 15, in addition to drawing a walk in his second at bat, with only a groundout in between to deny McKay from 12 in a row.
The 10-straight at bats was the most consecutive at bats reaching base for a Spartan since former teammate Jack Frank reached base in 13-straight at bats from April 21-27, 2024.
McKay currently tops MSU and ranks 19th in the B1G with a .454 on-base percentage.
WALK LIKE A MCKAY-IAN
• Sophomore infielder Ryan McKay also ranks tied for ninth in the B1G and ranks tied for 95th in the NCAA in walks (34) ... McKay is also ninth in the league in walks/game (0.81).
BIG THINGS IN MINI PACKAGES
• McKay, nicknamed "Mini" by his teammates, went 4-for-4 vs. Oakland on March 19, and then 5-for-5 at Penn State on March 21, and is the first Spartan player to go 4-for-4 and 5-for-5 since Jack Frank did so last year ... Frank was 4-for-4 on May 4, 2024 vs. Michigan, while he was 5-for-5 on March 2, 2024 vs. Western Michigan, and McKay is the first MSU player with five hits since Frank's 5-for-5 outing vs. WMU.
RYAN MCKAY TABBED BIG TEN CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Michigan State baseball's Ryan McKay was named the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Week, announced by the conference office on March 24.
McKay, a sophomore infielder from Clarkston, Michigan, earns not only his first B1G accolade of the season but of his career as well. It's his second overall B1G honor, as he was one of the Spartans' Big Ten Players to Watch before this season.
He also garnered MSU's first Player of the Week recognition this season. Overall, it is the Spartans' third conference accolade of the season, as junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa collected back-to-back Pitcher of the Week honors on Feb. 17 and 24.
The Spartan sophomore McKay slashed .722 / .762 / .833 for the week, going 13-for-18 in four games on the week, leading MSU to a 3-1 mark, including helping the Spartans to their first series win over Penn State at University Park since 2016.
McKay reached base in 10-straight at bats and 11 of his last 12 after going 4-for-4 in last Wednesday's win over Oakland, as well as drawing a walk in his last at bat in the series finale at Iowa, in addition to drawing a walk in his second at bat, with only a groundout in between to deny McKay from 12 in a row.
He was 5-for-5 at the plate in the opening win, becoming the first Spartan to do so this season, and the first since former teammate Jack Frank had a hit in all five at bats on 3/2/24 vs. Western Michigan. The Spartan infielder knocked two doubles in the opener, with one RBI and two runs scored.
McKay started the week going 4-for-4 with one RBI and three runs scored, adding two stolen bases and one walk in win over Oakland. He was also 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored in the loss at PSU.
He then bounced back by going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in the series-clinching Victory for MSU. McKay sparked a Spartan rally in the fifth of the Spartans' big four-run inning, as MSU extended its 2-1 lead to 6-1, and added another RBI single in the ninth as Spartans broke the game open after PSU closed to 7-4, and MSU added three runs to open a 10-4 lead, securing the 10-5 series-clinching win.
11 INNINGS IS IN
• MSU has played three extra-inning games this season and they've all three gone 11 innings, winning 12-8 at Iowa in 11 frames on March 14, while losing to Northwestern 11-10, at home on April 11, but then bouncing back to beat Ohio State, 10-9 in 11 innings, on April 19.
LIGHTING UP SCOREBOARD FOR DOUBLE-DIGITS
• The Spartans posted back-to-back games with 10 or more runs in the first two games of the Northwestern series, falling 11-10 in 11 innings in Friday's opener, before bouncing back to blank the Wildcats, 10-8 in 8 innings on Saturday. It was MSU's second time this season with 10+ runs in consecutive games, first doing so on March 1-2, with 11 and 13 runs vs. Harvard, respectively.
MSU scored double-digits in all four games in week of April 14, doing so in the midweek match-up with Western Michigan on April 15, and then in all three games against Ohio State (April 18-20), and now have hung 10+ runs on the scoreboard a total of 12 times and the Spartans are 11-1 when scoring in double-digits.
FAB FIRST FRAME AND SCORING FIRST
• Michigan State has scored 280 runs on the season, with 47 (16.8 percent) coming in the first inning, through the 42 games played, averaging 1.1 runs in the first inning per game, and the 47 runs in the first frame are four more than the next-highest scoring inning of the sixth with 43 runs.
MSU has scored in the first inning in 18 of the 42 games, including three different stretches of four-games in a row, most recently with the Western Michigan game on April 15 and all three games of the Ohio State series (April 18-20).
The Spartans are 12-6 when scoring in the first inning, as well as 20-8 when scoring first.
The Spartans scored 17 runs in the first four-game stretch, plating four vs. Washington State (Feb. 21), one vs. TAMU-Corpus Christi (Feb. 22), four vs. UCLA (Feb. 23) then eight vs. Harvard (Feb. 28) in the opening game in Greenville.
After being held scoreless in game two of the Harvard series on March 1, MSU then scored a combined nine in the opening inning of the next four contests, with four vs. Harvard (March 2), two vs. Western Carolina (March 5), one vs. Cornell (March 7-G1) and two vs. UAB (March 7-G2).
SENSATIONAL SIXTH STANZAS
• The sixth stanza was MSU's lucky inning in both of its wins in the Northwestern series, as nine of the Spartans' combined 13 runs in those two games came in the sixth inning.
In the 10-0 8-inning run-rule Victory for MSU on April 12, the Spartans were held hitless and scoreless through the first 5.0 innings, before breaking through with five hits and scoring seven runs in the frame, to open a 7-0 lead.
The next day, MSU was down 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth, and had just two hits to that point. The Spartans again knocked five hits and scored all three of their runs in the home half of the sixth, winning 3-1.
SHUTOUT SPARTANS
Michigan State's pitching staff has combined for five shutouts this season. MSU blanked Western Michigan in the season-opener on Feb. 14 in Cary, N.C., then shut out Monmouth the next day by an identical, 2-0 score.
The Spartans then walloped Winthrop, 7-0, on March 8 in Greenville.
Michigan State posted its fourth blanking of the season on March 21 at Penn State with a 4-0 Victory for MSU.
The Green & White chalked up their fifth clean sheet on April 12 with a 10-0 8-inning run-rule win.
MSU's five shutouts this season through 34 games are now the most by a Spartan pitching staff since 2016 when they also tallied five shutouts.
DOUBLE-DIGIT Ks
MSU's season-high 15 Ks vs. Washington State on Feb. 21 is one of 11 outings ringing up double-digit strikeout totals ... MSU has posting back-to-back 10+ K outings twice this season, doing so first in games one of two of the season, in both games of the season-opening DH on Opening Day on Feb. 14, and again in two of the three games of the Northwestern series, with 14 on April 11 and 10 the next day on April 12.
15 - vs. Washington State (Feb. 21)
14 - vs. Northwestern (April 11)
13 - at Iowa (March 14)
12 - vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 14-G1)
12 - vs. Western Michigan (Feb. 14-G2)
12 - vs. Harvard (Feb. 28)
12 - vs. Ohio State (April 19)
11 - vs. Western Carolina (March 5)
10 - vs. UAB (March 7-G2)
10 - at Penn State (March 21)
10 - vs. Northwestern (April 12)
HOME RUNNIN'
MSU enters the weekend with 44 home runs this season, needing one more to crack into the Top 12 of the single-season HR team list, two more to match last season's 46 homers and three more to crack the Top 10:
HOME RUNS
1. 2002 95
2. 2004 75
3. 1994 59
1984 59
5. 1985 57
6. 1988 54
7. 2023 52
8. 1990 49
9. 1987 47
2017 47
11. 2024 46
12. 2015 45
1993 45
-- 2025 44
DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK, WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
MSU made LL Cool J proud on April 19 when MSU rallied from down against Ohio State, 6-2 in the fourth and came back to win, 10-9 ... It was the Spartans' first comeback win from more than three runs since April 14, 2023 vs. Western Illinois when Michigan State was down 8-3 in the sixth and also came back to win by an identical, 10-9 score.
LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD WITH DOUBLE-DIGIT RUNS
• MSU plated 10 or more runs in four-straight games from April 15-20, the Spartans' longest stretch of scoring double-digit in a row since 2017 when they also had four in a row from March 21-26, including sweeping a series at Illinois with 12, 12 and 17 runs, coming after plating 11 in the previous game vs. Central Michigan, and as a span of doing so in five times out of six games, with 13 runs on March 18 ... the 2002 Spartans had two different stretches of scoring 10+ runs in four games in a row.
SOKOLOVE-IN' A WALK-OFF HR
• Senior outfielder JT Sokolove hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning on Saturday, April 19 for the 10-9 Victory for MSU over Ohio State ... it was MSU's first walk-off home run of any kind since March 10, 2023 when Dillon Kark had an inside-the-park home run at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. against Western Carolina in the bottom of the ninth ... ironically, Kark also had MSU's previous walk-off HR over the fence since March 18, 2022 when he belted a walk-off homer vs. Houston Baptist in a home game.
14-4 RUN-RULE LUCKY RESULTS
• Michigan State has now won three games by a 14-4 run-rule score with the win over Ohio State on Sunday, April 20 the most recent win by that score and all three have come at home at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium ... MSU beat Illinois, 14-4 in an 8-inning run-rule on March 29 and beat Western Michigan also by the 14-4 score and also in an 8-inning run-rule Victory for MSU on April 15.
RUN-RULIN'
• MSU has now had 10 games end early due to the 10-run run-rule, as the Spartans have run-ruled their opposition seven times, while losing three games early via the run-rule, as MSU is 7-3 in run-rule games.
BASE-SWIPING SPARTANS
Michigan State is seventh in the Big Ten in stolen bases with 56 swipes. MSU's 1.33 stolen bases per game is also seventh in the B1G.
The Spartans were a perfect 14-for-14 on stolen bases in the three games of the Harvard series.
Individually, senior outfielder JT Sokolove is tied for eighth in the B1G with 12 swipes, while sophomore infielder Ryan McKay is tied for 10th in the conference with 11 stolen bases and senior outfielder/infielder Nick Williams is tied for 28th in the league with eight bags stolen.
EARNING THE ICE BAGS
Michigan State is keeping Athletic Trainer Justin Waas busy with the ice bags, as the Spartans are ninth in the B1G and 123rd in the NCAA in hit by pitch, getting plunked 64 times so far this season, an average of 1.5 HBP pg.
MSU drew 12 HBP in the three-game Harvard series Feb. 28-March 2, including three each by senior outfielder JT Sokolove and junior outfielder Jake Dresselhouse.
Sokolove and junior infielder Randy Seymour were both hit twice in the Northwestern series (April 11-13), part of MSU drawing eight HBP, as Northwestern entered the weekend leading the B1G.
Individually, Sokolove is fourth in the B1G and is tied for 46th in the NCAA with 17 HBP. Sokolove is also third in the league and 52nd in the nation in HBP/game (0.41). Senior outfielder Nick Williams has earned nine HBP, while Dresselhouse has eight and graduate catcher Caleb Berry has been hit six times.
Sokolove has been HBP nearly the same amount as he has drawn a base on balls, as he has 16 HBP compared to drawing 17 walks.
SACRIFICING SEYMOUR
• Junior infielder Randy Seymour is second in the B1G and ranks 64th in the NCAA in sacrifice bunts/game (0.17), and Seymour is also second in the B1G and tied for 47th in the NCAA in total sacrifice bunts with seven. He had two sac bunts in the weekend series at Penn State.
As a team, MSU is third in the B1G in sacrifice bunts with 22 (0.5 pg).
WALK IT OFF SEYMOUR
• Junior infielder Randy Seymour laced a walk-off RBI single for the 3-2 walk-off Victory for MSU over Cornell on March 7 in Greenville ... It was MSU's first walk-off hit since last season on March 31, 2024 when Ryan McKay also had an RBI single to right field for an identical 3-2 walk-off win, coming against Rutgers in a B1G weekend series in East Lansing.
ONLY Ks IN THEIR NAME
• Despite having a K in their names, sophomore infielder Ryan McKay and senior outfielder Nick Williams don't register a K in the score book very often.
McKay was tied for the lead in the B1G and NCAA in toughest to strikeout after the first week of the season, as he was not retired on strikes in any of his 10 at bats in the opening weekend.
He was one of three B1G players and one of 155 players in the NCAA who did not strike out through the first week.
McKay now has just 25 Ks in 157 at bats (6.3) through 42 games.
Last season, McKay was second in the B1G and 13th in the NCAA in toughest to strike out (13.5), with just 14 strikeouts in 189 at bats.
• Teammate Nick Williams is the team leader with just 17 Ks in 119 at bats, just outside the top 10 in the B1G in toughest to strikeout (7.9).
Last season, N.Williams had just 25 strikeouts in 181 at bats (7.24).
TRIPLE THE PICOT-DE-GALLO
• Sophomore outfielder Parker Picot is tied for the Big Ten lead and tied for 11th in the NCAA in triples with five. Picot is also tied for first in the league and tied for 12th in the nation in triples per game (0.13).
PICOT SMASHING HOMER DEBUT
Spartan sophomore outfielder Parker Picot had a smashing memory for his first collegiate home run, crushing a grand slam home run in the first inning of the game vs. Harvard on Feb. 28.
Picot then bashed his second homer of the night with a solo home run in the fourth inning to record his first two-HR outing to go with his first HR as a Spartan and collegiate baseball player after transferring to MSU after one season at Alabama.
With five RBI on the night, Picot also became the first Spartan with five RBI in a single game since Greg Ziegler had five ribbies on May 4, 2024 vs. Michigan.
EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT
• Michigan State played an 11-inning game on March 14 at Iowa, winning 12-8 ... It was MSU's first extra-inning game of the season, and was the Spartans' first game going extras since May 5, 2024 in a 12-inning loss vs. Michigan ... It was MSU's first 11-inning game since March 16 of last season, going 11 in a loss vs. Evansville ... While both of those extra-inning games were at home, it was MSU's first 11-inning game on the road since April 11, 2023 with a 7-6 win at Notre Dame.
SPARTANS SMACK SIX HOMERS AGAINST HARVARD AND IOWA
• After not hitting six home runs in a game from March 26, 2017 until Feb. 28, 2024, doing so in the 14-1 7-inning Victory for MSU over Harvard in Greenville earlier this season, the Spartans have now done so twice in a span of 10 games ... MSU smacked a half dozen home runs at Iowa on March 14 in a 12-8 11-inning win, taking advantage of windy conditions at Iowa's Duane Banks Field, blowing 20-25 mph with gusts up to 35-40 mph.
Michigan State also smacked six home runs in the 14-1 7-inning Victory for MSU over Harvard on Feb. 28 at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. ... the six homers against Harvard was the most HR hit by the Spartans in a game since March 26, 2017 when MSU hit eight round-trippers at Illinois, winning 17-6.
WHEN YOU CARE ENOUGH TO SEND THE BERRY BEST, SEND IT ON THE 7TH
Michigan State graduate catcher/designated hitter Caleb Berry has six home runs this season, belting his fifth of the season at Indiana on Monday, April 7th.
Of Berry's five homers at the time, two have come on the seventh day of the month, as he hit his third round-tripper of the season on March 7th, and he hit his fifth homer of the year on Monday, April 7th.
MSU is scheduled to play on Wednesday, May 7th, playing at Western Michigan.
BUSCH BASHING WEEK RECAP
• Senior infielder Sam Busch was bashing in the midweek against Notre Dame and weekend series vs. Illinois, as he slashed . 500 / .533 / .929 in four games on the week, going 7-of-14, including 4-for-5, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, with five RBI in Sunday's win over Illinois.
• Busch started the week with a two-run single in his lone plate appearance on Wednesday at Notre Dame, after getting night off, came off bench in ninth inning and delivered two-run single off Notre Dame's closer, pulling MSU within 9-6, before rally and game ended with next batter.
• He then went 2-for-4 with pair of doubles and two ribbies and a run scored in Friday's series opening loss to the Illini.
• Busch finished the weekend going 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored, knocking a home run into the Red Cedar River along with a double, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, including a "walk-off" single in the eighth for the 14-4 run-rule Victory for MSU.
PROFESSIONAL STADIUM EXPERIENCE
• Michigan State is slated for 17 total games and one exhibition contests in four different professional stadiums.
MSU played in the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Kleberg Bank College Classic on the weekend of weekend Feb. 21-23 that was played at Whataburger Field, home of the Corpus Christi Hooks, Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
• The Spartans also played eight games at their home-away-from-home, Fluor Field, in Greenville, S.C., home of the Greenville Drive, the high-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Fluor Field nearly replicates the dimensions of Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. The Greenville ballpark has its own "Green Monster" replica, a 30-foot high wall in left field as opposed to the 37-foot one found at Fenway, and contains a manual scoreboard. Every other dimension is to the same specifications as Fenway Park, including "Pesky's Pole" in right field.
• MSU hosted Harvard in a three-game series last weekend, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 2. The Spartans played Western Carolina on Wednesday, March 5 in a single midweek contest, before hosting the First Pitch Invitational on Friday-Sunday, March 7-9, tangling with Cornell and UAB on March 7, then Winthrop on March 8 and UAB again on March 9.
• Michigan State tangled with the Lansing Lugnuts, the High-A affiliate of the Oakland A's, in the 2025 Crosstown Showdown on April 1 at Jackson® Field™ in the annual exhibition game, with MSU winning, 1-0, in the seven-inning contest using modified rules, including Lugnuts pitchers throwing to both teams, and were on limited pitch counts as some innings ended early.
• MSU also played a three-game Big Ten Conference series at Penn State, March 21-23, winning two of three. The Nittany Lions' home field is Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, home of the MLB Draft League's State College Spikes.
• Additionally, the Spartans also play a three-game conference series at B1G newcomer USC, Friday-Sunday, March 9-11, which plays a majority of its home games at Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif., while construction continues on the Trojans' home, on-campus Dedeaux Field.
GRAND SLAM SEYMOUR FOR GRAND SLAM HOMER CYCLE
MSU sophomore infielder Randy Seymour joined Picot in belting a grand slam over the weekend, with his coming in the win over Harvard on March 2.
The grand slam completes the career home run cycle for Seymour, as he now has a solo, two-run, three-run and grand slam during his Spartan career, with the first three coming last year as part of his three home runs in 2024.
Seymour is tied for fourth among the active Spartans in career home runs with four, behind leader Sam Busch with 16, Christian Williams (7), Nick Williams (5), and tied with Noah Bright (4).
STRIKIN' OUT WAZZU
• Michigan State's pitching staff rang up a season-high 15 strikeouts against Washington State on Feb. 21, with sophomore Joseph Dzierwa firing 12 Ks, followed by two by sophomore reliever Tate Farquhar and one by senior reliever Dominic Pianto to end the game.
The 15 vs. Washington State was the most by the Spartan pitching staff since ringing up 15 Ks vs. Western Carolina on March 11, 2023 in a 7-2 Victory for MSU at Fluor Field in Greenville, South Carolina.
DZIERWA GARNERS SECOND-STRAIGHT B1G PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONOR ON FEB. 24
Spartan southpaw becomes first MSU baseball player to earn B1G weekly award in consecutive weeks.
• Michigan State baseball's junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the second-straight week, announced on Feb. 24 evening by the conference office.
Dzierwa becomes the first Michigan State baseball player to earn a B1G weekly award of any kind in consecutive weeks in program history.
Twice before a Spartan pitcher has earned the Pitcher of the Week award in a span of three weeks, as Cam Vieaux earned the accolades on March 31 and April 14, 2014, and Andrew Waszak collected the awards on April 15 and 29, but not in successive weeks.
Along with his second-consecutive Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Award, this is Dzierwa's sixth overall conference recognition, including his third weekly award, as he was also Big Ten Freshman of the Week once (April 10, 2023). Dzierwa was a 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selection, as well as a two-time B1G Preseason Player to Watch List member (2024 and 2025).
Making his second start of the season last Friday vs. Washington State in the opening game of the Kleberg Bank College Classic in Corpus Christi, Texas, Dzierwa chalked up a career-high 12 strikeouts in 7.0 IP, with one hit and one walk, and those both came in the first frame, and he was nearly perfect after that until the sixth.
After striking out the first seven batters faced last week vs. Western Michigan, Dzierwa appeared to be starting Friday afternoon's contest the same way, ringing up Ks on the first two WSU batters. However, he then yielded a two-out walk followed by a single, but then chalked up his third punchout of the inning to slam the door on any thoughts of a rally the Cougars might have had.
Dzierwa then retired the next 14 Cougar batters faced with a total of 10 Ks through five innings, before hitting a batter in the sixth inning. In the seventh, he induced a popup and then fired back-to-back strikeouts looking to end his day with the 12 punchouts in 7.0 IP, with only one hit, one walk and one hit-by-pitch, in only 83 pitches.
It marked the third-straight outing of his career setting or tying career-best, dating back to last year, after he fired 11 Ks vs. Nebraska in the 2024 season-finale, then 11 Ks last Friday in Cary, N.C. vs. Western Michigan, before Friday's dozen punchouts.
The 12 strikeouts by the Spartan southpaw were the most by an MSU pitcher since Sam Benschoter rang up 17 Ks in 9.1 IP of relief on April 21, 2021 vs. Nebraska.
Additionally, the 12 Ks were also the most in the Big Ten to date, and he now has two of the top five single-game pitching performances in the league in the midst of the second weekend of the season.
Dzierwa is the sixth Spartan pitcher to earn the B1G Pitcher of the Week honors twice in a season, as along with Vieaux and Waszak, Kurt Wunderlich did so in 2011 (Feb. 28 and May 23), Bryan Gale in 2004 (March 29 and May 17) and Tim Crabtree in 1992 (April 7 and May 5).
Additionally, Dzierwa was also named the Big Ten Loud! Performance of the Day by D1Baseball for Friday's performances around the league.
He helped MSU to a 6-1 start to the season, it's best record since 2016, and the Spartans are ranked in this week's NCBWA Top-25 Poll, coming in at No. 23.
MSU'S JACOB ANDERSON NAMED TO LOU GEHRIG COMMUNITY IMPACT TEAM
Lone Big Ten player on list and one of only Power 4 schools.
Michigan State baseball's Jacob Anderson has been named to the 2025 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team, announced Wednesday, Feb. 19.
A redshirt-junior infielder, Anderson is the only player from the Big Ten Conference on the nine-player list and only of only two players from a Power 4 conference team.
Anderson, a native of Oakland Township, Michigan, has demonstrated remarkable success both on the baseball field and within his community, establishing himself as a dedicated and compassionate leader.
"Jacob Anderson is the consummate student-athlete who represents our athletics department in the most incredible manner on the field, in the classroom, and in the community," said MSU Associate Director of Student-Athlete Support Services Melissa Tallant. "He carries a 3.54 GPA and will graduate with a degree in kinesiology. He has a genuine desire to make his community a better place and consistently puts others ahead of himself while realizing the platform he has to impact those in need."
On the field, Anderson played an important role last season as the fifth infielder, dealing with an early-season injury, finishing with a .255 batting average. This season, he was elected one of two team captains in a vote by his teammates, and he stepped into the starting role at third base, where his skills, leadership, and determination will be vital to the team's success.
Off the field, Anderson's involvement in the community is equally impressive. He serves as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Representative for the baseball team, actively participating in various initiatives aimed at giving back to others. Anderson has contributed to events like Teams for Toys, the Student-Athlete Food Drive, and the Student-Athlete Career Mixer, all of which serve to support both the local community and his fellow student-athletes.
Anderson's leadership shines through in his work with organizations that support individuals with special needs. Through the baseball team, he has played a pivotal role in helping out with the Miracle League of Mid-Michigan, where he assists special needs youth as their 'buddy' during games on an adaptive rubberized surface. Additionally, Anderson has been involved with the Beautiful Lives Project, helping host a clinic for special needs youth, and with Team Impact, where the team adopted a six-year-old boy battling cancer, offering him love and support through a difficult journey.
Anderson is also a member of Athletes in Action on campus, participating in their Operation Christmas Child initiative, where he helps pack and send shoeboxes with Christmas gifts to children in need around the world. Looking ahead, Anderson plans to contribute to the City Rescue Mission, where he will assist in feeding and housing homeless individuals in the East Lansing area.
2025 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team
Cole Fellows – Columbia University - Captain
Jacob Anderson – Michigan State University
Javier Cardoso – Point Park University
Bobby Dingel – DeSales University
Alex Fitz-Hugh – Hampden-Sydney College
Jake McKee – Florida Gulf Coast University
Kamau Neighbors – University of Louisville
Alex Levesque – William Peace University
Eli Paton – Grand Canyon University
EARLY HOME OPENER
• Wednesday's March 12 home opener date was the earliest home opener in program history ... The 2025 home opener dethroned the 2024 and 2018 Home Openers that shared the honor of a March 15 date ... Michigan was the seventh in-state opponent for the Spartans in their last 12 home openers, joining Western Michigan (2023, 2019 and 2014), Central Michigan (2017, 2016 and 2015) ... Wednesday's game-time temp was 50 degrees, which put it among the warmest home-openers in the last 12 years.
Last 12 Years Of Home-Openers
Year Date Result Game-Time Temp
2025 March 12$ Michigan 11, MSU 7 50
2024 March 15* MSU 11, Evansville 3 54
2023 March 21 MSU 8, Western Michigan 3 50
2022 March 18 MSU 4, Houston Baptist 3 48
2021 March 26 Indiana 8, MSU 2 49
(B1G-only ledger due to COVID)
2020 No home-opener due to COVID --
2019 March 20^ / March 27 MSU 3, Western Michigan 2 52
2018 March 15* MSU 10, Niagara 1 34
2017 March 21 MSU 11, Central Michigan 2 52
2016 March 23 MSU 4, Central Michigan 1 38
2015 March 24 MSU 8, Central Michigan 3 40
2014 April 2 MSU 5, Western Michigan 3 52
$ = Earliest home-opening date in program history
* = Tied for previous earliest home-opening date in program history before the 2025 home opener on March 12
^ = Scheduled date but postponed
HOME OPENER SUCCESS
• Despite last Wednesday's loss, MSU has still won 11 of its last 13 home openers and the Spartans are 14-3 in their first game of the year played at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium under head coach Jake Boss Jr. ... The 2021 season's home opening loss to Indiana snapped MSU's eight-game home opener winning streak, but the Spartans won the next three since, before Wednesday's loss ... The Green & White are averaging over five runs per game (5.5 rpg) in the last 12 home openers, including scoring double-digit runs in three of the last 12 home openers, including last year in an 11-3 Victory for MSU over Evansville.
2-0 IN GAME ONE
• Michigan State played a doubleheader on both Friday and Saturday of the opening weekend, Feb. 14 and 15, winning the opener both days by 2-0 scores, needing only three total hits to do so, scoring all four runs on non-hit plays.
In the season-opening Victory for MSU on Feb. 14, the Spartans scored two runs in the fifth inning on a two-run sac bunt by redshirt-junior infielder Jacob Anderson.
In the win over Monmouth the next day, Michigan State capitalized on two sacrifice flies a few batters apart in the sixth inning, for the triumph.
DZIERWA COLLECTS B1G PITCHER OF THE WEEK ACCOLADES - FEB 17
• Michigan State baseball's junior pitcher Joseph Dzierwa was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for the opening week of the season, announced on Feb. 17 by the conference office.
This is Dzierwa's first career Big Ten weekly accolade, but his fourth overall league recognition. He was a 2024 All-Big Ten Second Team selection, as well as a two-time B1G Preseason Player to Watch List member (2024 and 2025).
Dzierwa is the first Michigan State pitcher to earn B1G Pitcher of the Week honors since May 1, 2023 when former teammate Harrison Cook earned the accolade.
The Spartan southpaw burst out of the gates in Friday's 2025 season-opener in Cary, N.C., against Western Michigan, tying a career-high by firing 11 strikeouts in 6.0 IP, good for a 1.8 K/inning and a 16.5 K/9 average). Dzierwa opened the game with seven straight strikeouts in the first seven batters faced, and did not allow a run of any kind in holding Western Michigan to just one hit.
Dzierwa, a native of Haskins, Ohio, was named one of D1Baseball.com's Friday standouts and his photo was the lead for the Friday's standouts, as the 11 Ks was second-most by a D1 pitcher on Friday. His D1Baseball.com game score of 80 was the highest in the B1G and second in the NCAA for Friday's games, and also tops in the B1G and holding at second overall for both Friday and Saturday's games.
The 11 Ks was tied for the most in the B1G in the opening weekend. Dzierwa was one of five pitchers in the conference to post 10 or more strikeouts in the opening weekend, but he was the only pitcher in the B1G that didn't yield a run of any kind, and his 0.33 WHIP was the lowest of any B1G pitcher with 10+ strikeouts.
UP NEXT
• Michigan State plays a pair of in-state foes next week in its final midweek match-ups and non-conference contests of the season, hosting Eastern Michigan on Tuesday, May 6 at 6:02 p.m. at Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium. MSU then plays at Western Michigan on Wednesday, May 7 at 4 p.m. at WMU's Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field
• The Spartans then make the cross-country trek to Los Angeles, to play a B1G weekend series at USC, Friday-Sunday, May 9-11. MSU wraps up regular-season action against Minnesota in a three-game B1G series, Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17, in which will be MSU Senior Weekend Celebrations, presented by HAP.
• The Spartans' schedule is subject to change, fans can stay tuned to MSUSpartans.com and @MSUBaseball on Twitter for schedule updates, along with follow this weekend's action with "Watch Live," "Listen Live" and "Live Stats" links where available.
• Michigan State baseball tickets are available online at msuspartans.evenue.net, by contacting the Spartan Ticket Office at 517-355-1610 or by email at tickets@msu.edu for questions or more information.
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/ BaseballPursuit to Greatness | Spartans All-Access
Monday, May 19
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 25 2025
Tuesday, March 25
Jake Boss | Baseball Press Conference | Mar. 11 2025
Tuesday, March 11